UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
VETERINARY CENTER FOR CLINICAL TRIALS
Clinical Trials Report
September 2018
NEW CLINICAL TRIALS
DENTISTRY AND ORAL SURGERY
Discolored Teeth
Evaluating Pulp Vitality in Dogs

To date, we relied on clinical assessment and dental radiographs of discolored teeth to decide whether or not those teeth require treatment. A newly developed diagnostic tool (TOTEM device) has been developed to assess tooth vitality much more accurately via tooth temperature. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical application of the TOTEM device to assess tooth vitality.
  
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GENETICS
Intervertebral Disc Disease
 Understanding the Genetics in Poodles

Some breeds of dogs are at an increased risk of type 1 Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD). While a genetic cause for chondrodystrophy (CDDY) has recently been identified, not all chondrodystrophic dogs suffer an intervertebral herniation event in their lifetime, suggesting that there may be additional factors that increase risk for type 1 IVDD.
NEUROLOGY AND NEUROSURGERY
Spina Bifida
Assessing a Stem Cell Therapy in Puppies

Spina bifida (SB) occurs due to malformation of the spinal cord and/or vertebrae during pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of stem cell therapy for spina bifida in dogs and compare the effects of reparative surgery only to surgery plus gel matrix and surgery plus a gel matrix and stem cell therapy for these dogs.

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Epilepsy
Assessing a Stem Cell Therapy in Dogs

Epileptic seizures can significantly alter the quality of your dog's life, especially when they don't respond well to classical treatment with anti-seizure medication. The purpose of this trial is to investigate the efficacy of a new device to determine when your dog is likely to have a seizure, thereby allowing us to treat pre-emptively.

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Inflammatory Brain Disease
 Assessing a Stem Cell Therapy in Dogs

None of the current treatments for inflammatory central nervous system disease are ideal, predictable and without possible complications. In recent years, stem cells have shown some promise as a potential treatment option for chronic inflammatory diseases, therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of stem cell therapy on dogs with inflammatory brain disease.

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ONCOLOGY
Osteosarcoma & Melanoma
 Evaluating a New Immunotherapy in Dogs

The purpose of this study is to determine the maximum tolerated dose and efficacy of an immunotherapy protocol against metastatic osteosarcoma or melanoma growing within the lungs.
  
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OPHTHALMOLOGY
Retinal Degeneration
 Understanding the Disease in Greyhounds

This trial is being conducted to better characterize retinal degeneration syndrome in greyhounds with hopes of identifying the genetic components of this disease.
  
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FEATURED ONGOING CLINICAL TRIALS
CARDIOLOGY
Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis
Understanding the Genetics in Bullmastiffs

Subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) is the second most common heart defect diagnosed in dogs with Bullmastiff breed being an over-represented breed. There is no surgical treatment available that results in an increased life expectancy for affected cases. The aim of this study is to identify genes/variants associated with SAS in Bullmastiffs that can be used to develop a genetic test.   
  
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Atrial Fibrillation
 Understanding the Genetics in Irish Wolfhounds

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia in which the heart beats fast with no identifiable pattern of atrial activation. Although AF affects a wide variety of animals, it has a particularly high prevalence in Irish Wolfhounds suggesting a genetic predisposition. We are conducting a genetic investigation into the cause of AF in Irish Wolfhounds in order to improve our understanding of this disease and thus inform prevention and treatment practices.           
  
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GENETICS
Aspergillus spp. Fungal Infections
Understanding the Genetics in Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Hungarian Viszlas and German Shepherds

Systemic fungal infections such as aspergillosis are rare in animals with a competent immune system; however, certain dog breeds are reported to have a higher risk of this uncommon disease. We propose to use genome-wide association analysis to evaluate the differences in the genetic material of German Shepherds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Hungarian Vizslas infected with  Aspergillus spp .

Old Age / Longevity
Understanding the Genetics in Golden Retrievers

Many current studies are aimed at trying to identify genes associated with diseases in dogs, but we are looking to see if genes exist that could help protect against these same life-limiting diseases in the dog.      

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INTERNAL MEDICINE
Fungal Disease
Exploring New Diagnostics in Cats and Dogs

The purpose of this study is to investigate new, rapid diagnostic tests for fungal diseases in cats and dogs.

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ONCOLOGY
Lymphoma
 Assessing a New Treatment in Dogs

Fermented wheat germ protein (FWGP) has been shown to be a potent immune modulator that could activate immune cells called Natural Killer (NK) cells. The purpose of this trial is to determine if FWGP promotes anti-cancer immunity and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the FWGP product when administered orally in dogs with lymphoma.

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Cancer of the Prostate, Bladder and/or Urethra
 Treating or Assessing the Disease in Dogs

Trial #1   focuses on evaluating the efficacy of transrectal ultrasound  during urethral stent placement  to circumvent problems commonly associated with fluoroscopic guidance.

Trial #2 aims to collect blood and urine from dogs with prostate cancer before and after prostatic artery embolization to better understand the cause of this cancer.

Trial #3   focuses on determining whether 1) it is possible to obtain useful bacterial culture samples from prostates in dogs with prostate cancer and 2) if results of these cultures correlate with urine cultures collected directly from the bladder. 

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Oral Melanoma
 Assessing a New Treatment in Dogs

One reason tumors can be resistant to radiation therapy because of low levels of oxygen in the tumors. Another reason is that low levels of oxygen leads to local immune suppression. We anticipate that the treatment will carry oxygen to the tumor and hopefully restore normal oxygen levels to the tumor and make it more responsive to treatment.

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Osteosarcoma
 Using a Vaccine to Improve Efficacy of Standard Treatment in Dogs

ADXS31-164c is a vaccine that is designed to cause the immune system to inhibit an important receptor that may aid in cancer progression (HER2/neu). The purpose of this study is to determine if adding the vaccine ADXS31-164c into the treatment protocol for dogs with osteosarcoma will be safe and improve efficacy of current standard therapies for osteosarcoma in dogs.  

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ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY AND LAMENESS
Elbow Dysplasia
Assessing a New Diagnostic Tool in Dogs

The gold standard for diagnosis of elbow dysplasia is arthroscopy; however, this technique requires general anesthesia and is an invasive procedure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of a micro-invasive arthroscope system for the diagnosis of elbow dysplasia in dogs.

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HEALTHY ANIMALS
Healthy Pet Lizards
Studying Fungal Pathogens on the Skin of Healthy Pet Lizards

Nanniziopsis guarroi    is a non-zoonotic fungal pathogen of many lizard species and is the causative agent of "yellow fungus disease" in the bearded dragon. There is little known about the prevalence of Nannizziopsis guarroi in the general population, and only a few case reports of clinical infection including diagnostics and treatment have been reported. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of Nannizziopsis spp., a fungal pathogen, on the skin of healthy companion (pet) lizards. 
 
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TRIAL UPDATES
Clinical Trials that are "On Hold" 
  • Investigating a Oral Nutraceutical Treatment in Dogs with Cystine Bladder Stones
  • Understanding the Genetics for Leopard Complex Spotting in Appaloosas
  • Assessing a New Treatment for Oral Melanoma in Dogs
  • Assessing a New Treatment for Lymphoma in Dogs
  • Evaluating a New Formulation of Chemotherapy for Lymphoma in Dogs
  • Understanding Intervertebral Disc Herniation in Dachshunds
  • Identifying Lymph Node Metastasis in Dogs with Lung Tumors
  • Assessing Minimally-Invasive Tumor Ablation in Cats and Dogs
  • Improving Operative Detection of Tumors in Cats and Dogs
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Dogs
  • Assessing a Potential Treatment for Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs
  • Evaluating a Stem Cell Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Laser Ablation for Treatment of Ectopic Ureters in Dogs
  • Stem Cell Therapy for Dogs with Acute Severe Spinal Cord Injury
NOTE: Trials that are "On Hold" are not accepting new patients and we do not know when these trials will open back up.  If/when these trials do accept new patients again, we will notify you via this report and post information about the study (including contact information) on the VCCT website.


Clinical Trials that are Recently Completed or Finished Enrollment  
  • Comparison of Longitudinal Changes in Chromatic Pupillometry in Normal Dogs and Dogs with Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration or Optic Pathway Disease
  • Assessing the Effect of Valacyclovir on EHV-5 Viral Kinetics in Horses Diagnosed with Equine Multinodular Pulmonary Fibrosis
  • Comparing Diagnostic Techniques for Elbow Dysplasia in Dogs
  • Evaluating Post-Dexamethasone Cortisol Values Used to Diagnose Hyperadrenocorticism in Dogs
  • Reducing the Risk of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Dogs Receiving Chemotherapy
  • CT and PET/CT for staging of canine oral malignant melanoma
THANK YOU!
Thank you for wanting to be a part of our clinical trials program.  We greatly appreciate your desire to participate in and inform others about our trials, and/or refer cases to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH).  The VCCT and our clinical trials wouldn't be here without you!  
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